On Tue, 08 Jun 2004 22:42:21 -0400, Natalie wrote:

"Help me" is imperative in both English and French. In French, it would be
written as "aidez-moi" m'aidez would mean help (me) in the context of a larger
sentence, but it isn't what you would say in lieu of just "Help me!" A
french grammar book of your choice can confirm this for you.

Nevertheless, "mayday" comes from the French, as do the other two
international marine distress calls, pan-pan and securite.

My Webster's Collegiate says the origin is "m'aider" and dates the
call to 1927.

Perhaps they were standardized by a British commission with an
imperfect knowledge of French?

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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